A Queensland Liberal National Party MP has apologised for saying Asian drivers had “no comprehension” of the road rules.

The member for Gregory and parliamentary chief whip, Vaughan Johnson, has been campaigning for a driving and road rules test for foreigners wanting to drive in Queensland.

He said driving conditions in Australia were different to those in other parts of the world and some foreign drivers, particularly those of Asian descent, did not understand the road rules even in their own country.

“I’m not against Asian people, don’t get me wrong – but a lot of those Asian people come from an environment where they have no comprehension of road rules in their own country,” he told Fairfax Radio on Thursday.

But later in the day Johnson issued a letter to apologise.

“I apologise for any offence cause by my recent comments regarding foreign drivers on Queensland roads,” he wrote. “I wanted to convey that all drivers in Queensland must take care on the roads.

“I regret the way in which I expressed my concerns and acknowledge my comments were inappropriate.”

The premier, Campbell Newman, said he did not support his chief whip’s comments and Johnson had been spoken to.

“I don’t agree with his comments and I reject them, and I believe he understands that he went a little bit too far,” Newman told reporters.

“He’s been spoken to.”

Johnson admitted he did not have any figures to back up his initial claim, but said testing would reduce the number of foreigners involved in fatal accidents.

The state’s peak motoring body said it wasn’t aware of any evidence suggesting ethnicity or nationality had an influence on driving skills.

“There’s no evidence that we’re aware of, of any ethnic or national characteristics that lead to better or worse driving,” RACQ spokesman Paul Turner told AAP.

“Driving is one of the individual things you can do, some people are good, others aren’t so good, but we have no evidence that ethnicity or nationality play any part in your driving ability.”

The RACQ said it supported existing arrangements under which foreigners were allowed to drive in Australia under international licences and permits.